FLIR for Motorcycles: How Thermal Imaging Can Enhance Rider Safety

[Robert]

Interesting article on flir installed on a motorcycle, I thought more might be interested and considering how many collisions with deer. I had never thought of it for this use or even that it could be a good thing but after reading I see how it could be good.

http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/flir-infrared-thermal-imaging-for-motorcycles?roi=echo3-41681740752-40312667-24a3059fadb9996a44b4ac83ea23b059&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=content_BBNews&utm_source=Sun_020517_BBNews&utm_content=flir_for_motorcycles

[Firefighter]

I would like to have one but I try not to ride at night as there are just too many things out there to get me. We use different types of FLIR's in the fire service and they are fantastic. Anything from determining how much propane was in a tank to looking for hot spots or victims in a structure to checking for wreck victims along side the expressway. They really made a difference in my line of work. I don't care to ride at night mostly because of the debree on the roads, pieces of truck tire etc.  But if my riding style changes I'll be lookin through one!

[3fan4life]

Great Idea!

Hopefullly they will get more affordable soon.

[MarkT]

Having killed two mulie bucks 3 hours before dusk, I watch for animals esp deer closely.  Lots of them around here.  Fortunately they don't tend to bolt in front of you like white tails do.  They just mosey onto the road and travel in packs. For now I have really bright lighting that covers the ditches and road to a half mile while I'm looking for brown. When they get the units working well, compact, with good prices - I'll sign up for FLIR.  This one looks pretty good but still $2000.  https://therm-app.com/

[Gryphon Rider]

It looks like the best high-tech motorcycle safety upgrade since Anti-lock brakes.  It would help in daylight too, since wildlife can be camouflaged.  I wonder if it can flash or sound a warning when it sees something?

[dreamaker]

I have wanted one of those devices forever, but the prices stopped me dead in my tracks.  About 30 years ago, I went to a guys house to bay some video editing equipment. We talked about various things, he shower me a device concept he came up with. He used a consumer VHS camcorder, he did some how tweaked to the sensor control and had dark filter on it.  He told me to take it out side and look through it.  It was early winter, so it was cold out, I could see the heat coming from his neighbors car and the houses, it was like a whitish gray in color. He would not tell me how he did it, but if I have a camcorder he would tweak mine for $250, that was expensive at that time, so I didn't. Cameras work on IR basis. If you want to see if your IR remote control is working, take your camera or cell phone with a camera, put it in live mode, then point the remote at the camera and press the button on the remote and watch it blink as long as it is a IR remote.  Also Police helicopters have FLIR cameras on them, if you try and hide when it is dark out, they can see you, even if you think you are hiding.

[Dave Ritsema]

The dash on that guys bike was....different. I would think that bike is more dangerous than most simply because of all the distractions that keep you from what you need to be looking at the most, THE ROAD.

If they can eventually get that to work like a floating display on your windshield that doesn't require you to take your eyes off the road that may be interesting, but other than that I simply see a distracting gadget. I have worn night vision goggles on a helicopter and they are a completely different application that isn't constantly switching between oncoming headlights and darkness. They are also a pretty immersive experience and tend to give you tunnel vision, where on a motorcycle I feel like you need more overall awareness. Just my opinion.

[old2soon]

THOSE that Have turned forest rats into forest burger are Maybe thinkin bout givin up some bling for FLIR. So Far-knock on wood as I knock on my noggin-I've only ever had Really CLOSE calls with the forest rats. Maybe an Insurance discount with install and usage of this life saving electronic device? All the cursed thing has to do is avoid one close encounter of the worst kind with a forest rat and It paid fer itself! Couple G to keep yer ride safe and you outa intensive care hopefully! Put a brand new 84 Kenworth in the shop for about 2 and a half weeks cuz of a deer strike. Damages were in the multiple thousands of dollars and that did NOT include the lost revenue the truck would have made  that 2 and a half weeks! IF I had the Shekels I'd be on it like stink on kaka!  Far too many forest rats here bouts in Missouri. And I might inquire-Anyone here had a run in with a forest rat that had insurance?  Yeah-thought not!  RIDE SAFE.

[Robert]

Thermal Imaging Camera Attachment for iOS $249.99
 FLIR ONE offers non-contact spot temperature measurement, patented MSX Technology, and automatic shuttering. Plus, the FLIR ONE App offers thermal panoramas and timelapse.

http://www.flir.com/flirone/ios/

[Hook#3287]

I've envisioned this for a few years, but my vision is for helmet mounted screens, like those the chopper pilots have.

Hopefully, someday, much smarter minds than mine will figure that out.

If they could hurry up, that'd be good.

Oh yeah, they got to make it cheap too.

This looks like a good step.

[Valkorado]

When they get the units working well, compact, with good prices - I'll sign up for FLIR. 

+1.  I'll be the first in line.